The Best Art in St. Louis

Whether you’re a native or a first-time visitor, there’s always something to discover in St. Louis. But while you’ve probably heard all about the Arch and other popular landmarks, we have a few other recommendations we’d like to make. This week we’re focusing on some of the city’s best public art — one-of-a-kind parks and museums that feature work from some of the world’s greatest artists, architects and landscapers.

City Museum

City Museum is probably the most fun you can have in an old shoe factory. Built out of locally found objects like abandoned planes and old chimneys, it’s a 600,000 square foot work of art that you can really experience. You can take a trip down the ten-story slide, make your own shoelaces, and even catch a concert from time to time. There’s so much to do at City Museum, you’ll probably want to make the trip again and again…

Citygarden

Sitting on 2.9 acres of the mile-long Gateway Mall, the breathtaking Citygarden is a park featuring fountains and spray plazas, a video wall, and twenty-four sculptures by some of the world’s most acclaimed modern artists such as Fernand Leger and Mark di Suvero. Since 2009, it has been a major highlight of the city’s downtown area, only a short walk away from the Arch and riverfront. While Citygarden is always open to the public, plan ahead and join one of the guided tours to get the full experience.

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis

Free all summer long, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis is a can’t-miss destination in the city’s vibrant Grand Center arts and entertainment district. While you can always check things out on your own, CAM offers loads of programs for visitors of all ages. If you really want to make the most out of your visit, be sure to download their official app to stay up to date on current exhibitions and events.

Laumeier Sculpture Park

If conventional museums aren’t really your scene, check out the Laumeier Sculpture Park. Spread out across 105 acres, the park is an open-air museum (one of only a handful in the world) that features walking trails, concerts, educational programs, lectures and other special events. Of course, that’s in addition to the dozens of sculptures that make Laumeier Sculpture Park one one of the country’s great public art spaces.

Interested in doing some more exploring while you’re in town for LouFest? Be sure to check out our other favorite things to EAT, SEE, and DOin the Lou.